wrote:
Ok, I think I am learning something here. If radials simulate earth,
would using a solid steel plate instead of radials be better?

Depends on how you define "better".

For an elevated antenna, once you get beyond about 3 or 4 radials, the
increamental difference in performance for added radials is such that
you would never notice it in a practical application.

A solid plane has the disadvantages of being heavy, has a much larger
wind loading, and is difficult to "droop" to get closer to 50 Ohms.

You can download the demo version of EZNEC from http://www.eznec.com/
and model a simple vertical with varying numbers of radials and see
for yourself.

--
Jim Pennino

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